Meat scoring and tendering device



April 30, 1935.

, L.. J. BECKER 1,999,972

MEAT SCORING AND TENDERING DEVICE Filed NOV. l5, 1935 ozlz's Jeclfer; i

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 l 'TEESD lP-TENT 7'15999'.922 y vMEAT :SGORJNG l.AND TENDERNG lDEvICE Y"nuns xixeeker, Rochester, l`Y. y AnplicationrNoveniberfllS,- 1933, Serial vNo. 6 98.139

tioneequippedwith 2a plurality of relatively :nxed

'.bla'des f adapted tto present sharp .points v:to :the

isuri' ace of the "meat ffor readilyl penetrating the vsametand capable of; cutting andascoringitheimeat Ito` thek required :depth 'with-a slicing-or shearing cut, fwherebyztheber .of theimeatiisseveredan'd separated .and 'the :meat .rendered tender and easily; masticated. and digested.

A lfurther `object of :the :invention Vis to :Lpro- `vide simple, practical land leicientmeans for: en- ;abling the depthl of the l cutiof the bladesf 'the :device tobe readily vcontrollecliso thatthedevice .may .be `easily `adjusted vrior cutting `:the surface ofthe meatto the desiredfdepth.

.Another :object 'of the M'invention ds 'toaprovide .forfthe meat scoring` and .tenderingidevice atoombined guard, gauge andbla'de cleaningzmember z adapted to present assrnooth.v curvedcsurface'to the meat Kduring the .fcuttingi andiscoringLoperationfandoperative Yto clean'izthe blades afterJsuch ."scoringiand tendering operationhas been comqileted and forming :a :guard :for `:.thezbladeslto prevent the. handset :a'person Efrom: accidentally coming in contact with the blades andrbeingrcut thereby when the device--isfnotfinzusa fwhereby the :device :may ibe ileft'iwith perfect @safety `in a convenientY .place :or rpositionzforz ready iusetrwith- -ont danger oinjuringtheoperator on otherzperson.

'-With these and iotherobjectsi in vview, itheiinvention consists in the iconstruction .fand tnovel -combination andfarrangernentzofmarte-hereinaft'ter .fullvdescribed' illustrated; in thefaccompan'y- :ing-drawing andgpointedz: out in :the: claims hereto fappended, `it Abeing understood ethat various :changes' inthe form, proportiontand minondetails vnf construction, 'within the :scope of .theiclaims may be :resorted to :without ydeparting .from the spirit :orsacricingfanyof: the advantages of the invention.

Figure' 1 is aperspective viewnffatzmeatiscoring and tendering device constructed.: in 'accordance :withthis invention and'fillustratingthe arrangefmentzof'the-parts when the *device is.; not in use.

Fig 2 is :a flongitu'dinal sectional :view iof fthe :.SZIIIG. l

r-Fig. -3 iis .'a transverse 'sectional Iview A.oi sthe `meat :scoring :and tendering 1rdevice, fthe hinged (clelia-leo) '.U-shapedin crossifsectionltoforin two :sides-be- Ytween which ispivoted an operating levend. l'I'he aeperating vlever consists `of 'afsubstantially -tri- Aangular front' portionr 51e-nd a. rearwardlynextend- Ainghandle portion-Glarranged opposite the hanfdle portion 3 :of l,the t frame Lrnenibernso fthatfthe handle portions 3 and 6 may-bei simultaneously :grasped to --zoperate iapivotedgguard :member 'l -which is.A movable :tot and" from. a pluralityof :rela- :tively -Xed=bla`des 8: mounted in the', casing :Zroi -..the Yframe member. handle @3 'of the iframe f member @by a :transverse screw 29:01 other f'suitablesfastening f-device. The 'screw 9 lwhich Lforms .the pivot l:for the :lever fis located 1 intermediate of .the .endsv of therfsanie A:to

form Lfront and rear arms. frstituting 'the rear arm .is clearl-y '.illus'trated'-in fFig. :270i the drawing.

The .blades 8v are oblongand faregprovidedwvith f outer .longitudinal :cutting Y', edges the -outer een-d rportionsofvwhich-cutting.edgeszare exposedrwhen The handle 6 vfconw The lever-'lis pivotedvto the .25

.blades todae used,fand1newbladesfmay :be 'snb- 40 .sstitutedforworn-.blades fasflthefbladesearez readily #removable lforY such;t purpose.

:The :blades -whichaare relativelyfflxed .may,"=;of

.course, :be offany other.preferredforml andrnthey :extendflongitudinally 'of the devicewandiarerr'ar- .-ranged: infspaced relation andvare fsecurely .ffneld .between ...longitudinal bla-'de fclampingsbars :HL

"-.Thebladefzclamping bars arefccnnected-byitransversefastening devices consisting of fscrewsfor ception ro'fl nuts ffl 5 fwhichwenable'wthe:tbladeshto :be iinnlyclampedbywthe bars Jill.

Thecasingl2 ofzztheiramel memberconsistsnffa i".

Cil

. movement.

bottom side and end walls and is open at the top when the device is arranged as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The side walls are preferably tapered longitudinally and the blade holder formed by the bars Vi B and the rods i i and tne group of blades are arranged in the casing with the blades projecting beyond the casing. The blade holder is secured in the casing by screws IG which pierce the side walls of the casing and the adjacent blade clamping bars, as clearly illustrated in Fig; 3 of the drawing. The inner ends of the screws are threaded` into the openings l'! of the adjacent blade clamping bars and in order to enable the holder to fit snugly within the substantially rectangular casing of the frame member l the side walls of the frame member are provided at their inner faces with recesses I8 preferably formed by offsetting portions of the side walls of the casing, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The recesses IS are arranged to receive the nuts Iii andthe terminal portions of the fastening devices H. This provides a compact structure.

Two of the blade clamping'bars of the blade holder are provided with rearward extensions I9 located at opposite sides of thedevice and form- .ing supports for a transverse pivot or pintle 2t to which the guard member is hinged Vor pivoted.

The pintle pierces the spaced extensions il) and the pivoted member 'I is provided at its inner or rear edge withA a transverse flange 2l to which is secured a plate 22 provided with spaced eyes 23 through which passes the pintle 23 whereby the pivoted member 'i is hinged to the blade holder, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing.v 'Ihe plate 22 constitutes a hinge leaf and the eyes 23 are located at the ends of the plate. The rearward extensions form hinge eyes and the said eyes and the pintle constitute a hinge connection between the pivoted member 7 and the blade holder. l Y

The plater22 is also provided with a centrally arranged rearwardly extending lug 24 extending .through a slot 25 in the flange 2l and connected by links 2S to the front arm` of the operating lever .4. Suitable pivots 2'1V and 28 connect the links 26 tothe lever and to the lug 24. A coiled spring 29 is mounted on the pintle 20 centrally thereof and the terminals 30 and 3| Vof the coil of the spring are extended and bear against the plate 22and the blade holder for holding the pivoted member 'I normally spaced from the blades to form a guard. The end 32 of the terminal portion 33 of the coiled spring is fitted in a socket 33 in one ofthe blade 'clamping barsl and is retained in engagement with the socket by the resiliency .of the spring whereby the spring is prevented from sliding along the pintle.

In the operation of the device the handles 3 and 6 are graspedby` the operator and are compressed by the hand and moved towards each other, the inward movement of the handle 6 with respect to the'handle 3 operating through the AlinksZS to move the pivoted member 'I inwardly towards the blades 8. The pivoted memberis provided with spaced slots 34 through which the cutting edges of the blades project when the piv- Oted member is moved to the limit of its inward The front corner portions Y of the blades are exposed and are eiTective for scoring and tendering the meat and the pivoted member which is curved slightly in a direction longituv 'dinally of the device presents a smooth slightly curved surface to the meat andthe blades will :Tout Vthe surface of. the meat and score .the same to the desired depth severing the ber and rendering the meat tender and easily masticated and digested. As soon as the handle 6 of the lever is released or relieved of pressure the spring 29 will automatically lift or move the pivoted member and carry the same to a position beyond the cutting edges of the blades and it normally covers the blades and forms an eiiective guard for preventing a person from coming in contact with the blades. Also the outward-movement of the pivoted member 1 automatically cleans the blades and removes from the blades any meat adhering to the same after the scoring and tendering operation has been completed.

As the front end portions of the blades are exposed and are the effective portions of the blades in the scoring and tendering operation the eiiective portion of the blades may be readily renewed by simply reversing the blades when the front end portions of the same become dull or worn. The blades are readily removable and may be either sharpened or replaced by new blades when worn or dull. y l l 'Ihe inward movement of the pivoted member 1 is limited to vary the amount of the projecting portions of the blades to adjust the device to score or cut to the desned depth by means of an adjustable stop 35 consisting of an approximately L-shaped plate pivoted by a screw .33 or other suitable fastening device to the inner face of the front wall of the casing V2 and extending upwardly beyond `the upper edge ci the front wall, when the device is in the position illustrated in Figs, 1 and 2 of the drawing, to form a stop for the pivoted member 1. The L-shaped plate extends forwardly to form a iinger piece 31, by means of which the pivoted stop may be readily adjusted and in order to increase the range of adjustment of the stop the front wall is provided with a substantially arcuate slot 38 to receive the forwardly projecting portion of the plate and permit the stop to be swung downwardly to a positionrin flush relation with the upper edge of the front wall of the casing to provide a maximum amount of projection of the blades. The stop 35 is secured in its adjustment by means of a knurled nut 3S arranged on the outer threaded portion of the screw 38 and adapted to be screwed tightly against the front wall of the casing to secure the stop in any position within its range of movement.

What is claimed ist- Y r1. A meat scoring and tendering device comprising a frame'member, a plurality of blades mounted on the frame member and having cutting portions projecting therefrom, a guard member hinged to the frame member and movable toward and from the blades and arranged-to ncrmally swing outwardly and extend over the cuttingv portions of the blades away from the cutting edges of the blades to form a guard for the saine and Ahaving openings through which the blades are adapted to project, and an operating lever mounted on the frame member and connected with the hinged member for swinging the same from its normal outward-position inwardly vtoward the frame member to a position over the latter inwardly of the cutting edges of the blades.

2-. A meat scoring and tendering device ccmprising a frame member, a plurality of spaced parallel Vrelatively xedblades rigid with the frame member and having cutting portions projecting beyond the frame member, a hinged guard member carried by the frame member and normally extending over and away from the. cutting portions of the blades to form a guard for the same and provided with openings through which the: blades project when the ,guard member `is moved inwardly with relation to the frame mem ber, an operating lever mounted on :the frame member. and connected with the guard member for moving the same inwardly ktoward the Vframe member to a position between .the latter andthe cutting edges of the blades, and spring means for automatically moving the guard member outwardly whenthe operating lever is released.

3. A meat scoring and tendering device lcom-- prising a frame member consisting substantially of' a `front casing and a 'rearwardly extending handle portion, said casing being'open at one of its faces, a plurality of fixed blades mounted within the casing and having cuttingportions projecting at the open face of the casing, a hinged guard carried by the frame member and normally kswung over `and away from the blades to a forward inclined position with relation to the cutting edges of the blades to forma guard for the same and provided with slots through which the blades are adapted to project, and an operating lever mounted on thev frame member and connected with the guard member to swing the same vinwardly toward thefirame member into substantially parallel relation therewith and positioned between the frame member and the cutting edges of the blades to cause the blades to project through'the slots of the guard member.

4. A combined meat scoring and tendering device comprising a frame member consisting of a substantially rectangular casing open at one of itsffaces, a blade holder mounted within the casing, a plurality of xed blades secured within the blade holder and having cutting portions projecting beyond the casing, a substantially rectangular guard member carried by the casing, means for hinging the guard member to permit the same to swing inwardly and outwardly to and from the blades, said guard member being normally spaced from and extending over the blades to form a guard for the same, and'operating means connected with the guard member for moving the same inwardly to a position between the frame member and the cutting edges ofthe blades and substantially Aparallel with the trame member and the cutting edges of the blades.

5. A combined meat scoring and tendering device comprising a frame member consisting of a substantially rectangular casing open at one of its faces, a blade holder mounted within' the casing, a plurality of xedrblades secured lwithin the blade holder and having cutting portions projecting beyond the casing, a substantially rectangular guard member carried by the casing, means for hinging the guard member to permit the same to swing inwardly and outwardly to and from the blades, said guard member being normally spaced from'i and extending over the blades to form a guard for the same, spring means for automatically moving the guard member outwardly, andan operating lever mounted on the. frame member and connected withthe guardy member for swinging the same inwardly toward the frame member substantialy into'parallelism therewith and between the same and the cutting edges of the blades.

betweenvthe said bars of the.,lolade.-holder, and spaced apart by the same and having projecting cuttingportions, a 'hinged guard carriedbyfthe frame member and' normally extending over;v the cutting portions .of` the blades and.=forming.a guard 'for the same, said .guardmember being provided with openings through whichy the blades. are adaptedto project when the guard member is moved inwardly, and operating meanslfor'moving the guard inwardly to 1 aposition-between the frame member and the' cutting edgeseof Vthe blades. f i "7.1A meat scoring and tendering device comprising a frame member, a bladeholder mounted on the frame member `and composedof a plurality of parallel'blade clamping, barsand. fastening means connecting the bars, a pair of'the blade clamping bars-being' provided with rear extensions, flxed blades clamped between the said bars and spaced apart by the sameandhaving cutting portions projecting beyond'the frameV member, a pintle carried by said rear extensions, a guard member hinged to the-blade holder by the said pintle and normally extending over the cutting portions of the blades to form 'a guard for the same, said guard member being provided with openings through which the blades project when the guard member is moved inwardly, and operating mechanism for moving the guard mem# ber inwardly. Y

8. A meat scoring and tendering device .cornprising a. frame member, a bladeholder mounted on the frame member and composed of a plurality ci parallel blader clamping bars'and fastening means connecting the bars, a pair of lblade clamping bars being provided with rearA extensions, xed blades clamped between theA said 'bars'. and spaced apart by the same and having cutting portions projecting beyond the frame member, a pintle carried by said rear extensions, a guard member hinged to the blade holden by the said pintle and normally extending over thecutting portions of the blades to forma guard' for the same, said guard member Ybeing provided with openings through which theblades project when the guard member is moved inwardly, a coiled spring disposed on the pintle and bearing against the guard memberfor urging the same outwardly, an operatinglevermounted on the frame member, and means for connecting the operating lel Ver with theguard member whereby the operatingflever is adapted to move the guard member portions of the'gb'lades and provided with 'eyes mounted on the said pintle, said Vguard member being also provided with a rearwardly ex# tending lug, a lever mounted on the frame member and a link connection lbetween the operating lever and the saidl lug whereby the flever is adapted toy move the guardimember inwardly-L l0. AV meat scoring and'ten'dering device comprising a frame member provided with a=plu rality ofv xed blades having' projecting cutting portions, a hinged guard member-normally extending over the blades andforming afgua'rdfor guard member is moved inwardly,

the-same, said guard .member havingropenings through which the blades project when the guard member is moved inwardly, operatingmeans `for swinging the guard member inwardly to a-positionibetween the frame member and the cutting edges of the blades to'expose the cutting edges beyond the guard through the slots of the latter, and an Aadjustable stop carried by the frame memberand arranged in the path of the guard member to cause the blade to project to a greater or less degree when the guard'member is moved inwardly.

fr l11. A meat-scoring and tendering device comprising a frame member provided with a plurality of fixed bladeshaving projecting cutting Vportions, a hinged guard membernormally extending over the blades and, forming a guard for the same, said guard member having openings through which theY blades project when the operating means for moving the guard member inwardly, and a pivoted stop mounted on the. frame member and arranged in the path of the guard member and movable to different positions to adjust the device for causing the cutting portions of the blades to projectV to a greater or less extent beyond the guard member when the latter is at the limit of its inward movement, and means for securing the pivoted stop in its adjustment.

12. A meat scoring and tendering device comprising a frame member provided with a plurality of xed blades havingprojecting cutting portions, a hinged guard member normally extending over the blades and forming aV Vguard for the vsame, said guard member having openings through which the blades project when the guard memberV is moved inwardly, operating meansfor moving theguard member inwardly, and a pivoted stop mounted on the'frame member and arranged in the path of theV guard member and movable to different positions to adjust the device for permitting the cutting portions of Vthe blades to project to a greateror less extent beyond the guard member when the latter is at the limit of itsk inward movement, the pivot of the stop being provided.. with a threaded projecting portion and a clamping nut mounted on the threaded projecting portion of the said pivot for securing the stop in its adjustment. Y

.13. A meat scoring and tendering device including a frame member provided with an open casing, a blade holder mounted in theopen cas, ing and having fixed blades projecting beyond the casing, a hingedguard member carried by the frame member and normally extending over the cutting portions of the `blades to form a guard for the same, said guard member having openings through which the blades project when the guard member is at the limitof its inward move,- ment, an adjustable stop arrangedat the inner face of one of the walls of the casing and projecting beyond the casing and having a .pivot extending through the said wall and vprovided lwith an exteriorly threaded portion, said stop being located in the path of the guard member and having an outwardly projecting nger portion, and a clamping nut mounted on the threaded portion of the pivot for engaging the said wall to secure the stop in its adjustment, said wall having a lslot arranged to receive the projecting portion of thestop when the latter is swung downwardly. Y Y

, 14. ,A meat scoring and tendering device comprising a blade holding member including a handle, spaced bladesxedly carried by said member,

a guard swingingly mounted on the said member between the member and said handle and normally extending upon a forward incline over and away from the cutting edgesof the blades and having spaced openings through which the blades projectY when the guard is swung inwardly, a second handle pivoted on the aforesaid handle and having connection with said guard to swing the latter inwardly toward the frame member between the latter and the cutting edges of the blades when said handles are moved toward each other.

15. A meat scoring and tendering device comprising a bladeholding means, spaced blades xedly mounted on said member, a guard swingingly mounted on said member, means to normally maintain the guard in a position over and away from the blades, the guard having openings through which the cutting edges of the blades project when the guard is swung inwardly, and means operatively connected to the guard to swing the latter inwardly toward said blade holding means between the latter and the cutting edges of the blades. 16. A meat scoring and tendering device comprising means for the support of blades, a plurality ofY Vspaced parallel fixed blades on said means Vand having cutting portions projecting therefrom, a hinged guard carried'by said means and normally extending over and away from the cutting edges of the blades to forma guard for the same and provided with openings through which the blades project when the guard is moved inwardly with relation to said means and the blades, spring means for automatically mov'- ing the guard member normally outwardly, and a pivoted operating lever mounted on the afore' said blade supporting means in the rear of said blades and in the rear of said'guard and having operative connection with the guard to move the same inwardly against the action of said spring means toward the blade supporting means to permit passage of the cutting edges of the blades through the openings in the guard.

1'?. A meat scoring and tendering device comprising means for the support of blades, a plurality of spaced parallel fixed blades on said means and havingV cutting portions projecting therefrom, a hinged guard carried by said means and normally extending over and away from the cutting edges of the blades to form a guard for the same and provided withv openings through which the blades project when theguard is moved inwardly with relation to said means and the blades, spring means'for automatically moving the Vguard member normally outwardly, and a pivoted operatinglever mounted on the aforesaid blade supporting means in the rear of said blades and in the rear of said guard, a link having pivotal connection with the inner end of the operating lever and having pivotal connection with said guard whereby movement of the operating lever inone direction against the action of said spring means moves said guard toward said supporting means to permit passage of the cutting edges of the blades through thc-:openings in the guard.

18. A meat scoring and tendering device comprising a member, a plurality of spaced parallel substantially rectangular blades mounted on the member and rigid therewithand provided with cutting portions projecting beyond the member :Tifone of the faces thereof, afhinged guard carried by the member and normally extending outwardly over the cutting portions ofthe said blades to -form a guard for the samewand provided with slots through which the blades project when the guard is moved inwardly with respect to the said member, means for automatically moving the guard member outwardly, and operating means pivotally connected with the guard in the rear of the same for moving the same inwardly forwardly of the operating means to cause the blades to project through the openings of the guard member.

19. A meat scoring and tendering device comprising a frame member, a plurality of relatively fixed blades carried by the frame member and having projecting portions extending beyond the frame member for scoring and tendering meat, a hinged guard member normally extending over and away from the cutting portions of the blades and provided with openings through which the blades are adapted to project, and operating means mounted on the frame member and connected with the guard member for moving the same inwardly toward the frame member to a position between the frame member and the cutting edges of the blades to cause the blades to project through the slots of the guard member to expose the cutting edges of the blades outwardly of the guard for meat scoring or tendering purposes.

20. A meat scoring and tendering device comprising arframe member, a plurality ofk spaced parallel substantially rectangular blades mounted on the frame member and rigid therewith and provided with cutting portions projecting beyond the frame member at one of the faces thereof, a hinged guard member carried by the frame member and normally extending over and away from the cutting portions of the said blades to form a guard for the same and provided with slots through which the blades project when the guard member is moved inwardly with respect to the frame member, means for automatically moving the guard member outwardly, and operating means connected with lthe guard member for moving the same inwardly toward the frame member to a` position between the latter and the cutting edges of the blades to cause the blades to project through the openings of the guard member for meat` scoring and tending purposes with the frame member and the guard positioned inwardly of the cutting edges of the blades during such operations.

LOUIS J. BECKER. 

